Guidable ski and pole engaging means therefor



Dec. 6, 1949 w.lH, WHEELER 2,490,183

GUIDABLE- SKI AND POLE ENGAGING MEANS THEREFOR Filed Deo. 18., 1948 s sheets-sheet 1 --/7 I' l. f5

. f "aL-g Dec. 6, 1949 W. HQWHEEEEE 2,490,183

GUIDABLE SKI AND POLE ENGAGING MEANS THEREFOR Filed Dec. 18, 1948 3 SheetsfSheet 2y INVENTR Dec. 6, 1949 Wv. H. WHEELER GUIDBLE SKI AND POLE ENGAGING MEANS THEREFOR Filed DeC. 18, 1948 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Patented Dec. 6, 1949 UNITED GUIDABLE SKI` AND POLE ENGAGING MEANSv THEREFUR William H. Wheeler, New York, N. Y.

Application December i8, 1948, Serial No. 65,998

18V Claims. l

The present inventionv relates to ski constructions featured by equipment therefor tol permit engaging each ski by a pole that may be used for effective control thereof.

A general object of the present invention is to provide simple and readily constructed and easily used pole engaging means intended to be mounted on each ski for ready engagement of a control pole, either of the conventional ski pole type or other similar pole construction, whereby a grip at the top end of the pole is readily' available to a skiers hand when he is wearing a pair of such skis, the pole when so anchored to the ski permitting desired edging of the latter by lateral hand pressure on the pole handle while being so manipulable as to avoid endangering the skier in spills, and also permitting easy and effective retainment of balance in an unusual manner.

A more specic object of the invention is to provide such -apparatus which may equip a ski with a swingable pole that may be swung longi-I tudinally forward to lie substantially flat along the ski or to be automatically detached from the latter in such motion, while being relatively im-l mobile laterally of the ski in, generally upright I positions to permit edging ski control with provision, if desired, for limiting rearward pole swing from upright positions to assure more positive steadying of a skier.

Another object of the present invention is to provide such pole engaging means in the form of an anchorage for attachment to a ski in front of a skier wearing the same or a ski so equipped as to permit simple pole attachment or anchorege by a rather haphazard stabbing motion without necessitating particular care or skill or stooping action on the part of the skier to effect the desired attachment.

A further object of the invention is to provide such means whereby a ski pole of conventional l design may be employed alternatively and at will to serve two purposes, its now intended function and means for ski guidance control and steadying support for a skier.

An additional object of the present invention is the provision of skis with upright poles in front of the skier, self-adaptable to his natural crouching stance in skiing, permitting and even tending to provide or increase loading ofv the front ends of the skis which naturally increases maneuverability and control.

A still further object of the invention is to provide skis with poles appreciably forward of the boot platforms which in one embodiment are so attached or anchored thereto, at least tem porarily, as to set up. longitudinal triangles of support up through the poles, skiers. arms and down through his body and legs as to steady him in a manner avoiding tipping backwards, while permitting development of lateral support triangles which permit easy recovery from dangerous angles of excessive leaning sideways.

Other objects of the invention will in part be obvious and will in part appear hereinafter..

The invention accordingly comprises the features of construction, combination of elements and arrangement of parts, which will be exemplified in the construction hereinafter set forth, andthe scope of the invention will be indicated in the claims.

For a fuller understanding of the nature and objects of the invention, reference should be had to the following detailed description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a side elevational view of an embodiment of the present invention showing two positions of the pole, one in full lines andthe other in dot-dash lines, with portions of a skiers body indicated in a normal positionof rest before beginning a run;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged side elevation of ski clip and pole structure shown in Fig. l, with parts broken away;

Fig. 3 is a sectional View taken substantially on line 3-3 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a perspective View of one part of the clip structure shown in Figs. 2 and;

Fig. 5 is a viewsimilar to Fig. 2 of another embodiment of the invention;

Fig. 6 is a View similar to Fig. 3 of the embodiment shown in Fig. 5;

Fig. 7 is a top plan view of the structure shown in Fig. 5;

Fig. 8 is a sectional view taken substantially on line 8 8 of Fig. 5;

Fig. 9 is a ton plan View, with parts b-rokenaway, of a modification of the clip structure shown in Fig. 7;

Fig. 10 is a side elevational view, with parts broken away and in section, of a modiiied form of the structure shown in Fig. 2, shown mounted on a portion of a ski;

Fig. l1 is a top plan view of the structure shown in Fig. 10;

Fig. 12 is a sectional vie-.v taken substantially on line !,2 -I2 of Fig. 10; and.

Fig. 13 is an enlarged perspective View of one of the pair of spring clips employed in the structure shown in Figs. 10to l2 inclusive.

Referring to-the drawings, like numerals indicate similar parts throughout, and, as will be seen from Fig. 1, each of a pair of skis of conventional form may, as is well known, comprise an elongated runner I0, having a tip I i and tail I2, with a boot platform I3 located therebetween. In accordance with the present invention, such a ski I is to be equipped with pole engagement means or a clip structure Ill to which a substantially rigid pole I5 may be pivotally attached. Since most skiers use in practicing the sport of skiing a pair of ski poles of conventional form, it is preferred that the present invention be practiced in a manner to utilize those ski polesas the poles to be engaged or mounted on the skis in accordance with the teachings of the present application. Each ski pole thus may comprise a shaft I6 having a handle iltted with a grip I'i at its upper end to which is secured the usual Wrist strap I8. Near its lower end, the ski pole I5 is fitted with the usual snow ring I9, secured thereto by flexible attachment means or webbing 2D. The portion of the pole I5 below the snow ring I9 may be considered to be the point 2l comprising a tapered point tip 22 and its shank 23.

In order to use the conventional pole I5 for purposes of the present invention, its point 2I may be equipped with a suitable attachment 29, which may comprise an elongated socketed steel member or sleeve 25 provided with a tapered tip z 26 and thereabove with a circumambient or circular collar 2l preferably tapered on its lower side, as shown, and squared off on its upper side to provide opposed anchoring shoulders 28, 28. Of course, since the collar 2l is continuous, its upper squared surface provides a plurality of pairs of diametrically opposed shoulders 28, 23 about the pole point shank 23, with any one of such pair being available for use, as may be dictated by the particular orientation of the pole about its longitudinal axis. The attachment member 25 is readily and quickly secured to the pole point 2| by virtue of the fact that its upper end 29 is longitudinally split, as indicated at 3B, externally threaded as shown at 3|, and provided with a downwardly flared wedging shoulder 32, as best shown in Fig. 3. An internally-threaded collar 33 is threadably engaged upon the externallythreaded upper end l290i member 25 and is provided with an internally-tapered throat 33 jammed down upon the flared shoulder 32. As a result, the slotted upper end 29 of member 25 is constricted so as to grip and securely anchor therewithin pole point 2 I.

It will be understood that the equipment of a ski pole, such as I5, with the attachment 2d is readily accomplished at will and may be permanently left in position on the pole I5 since it does not interfere with normal use of the pole in the manners well known to those skilled in the art of skiing. As a result, such permanent mounting of attachment 24 makes available at all times its use in accordance with the teachings of the present invention for anchorage of a pole so equipped to a ski provided with suitable clip means of the present invention.

In the embodiment of the invention shown in Figs. 1 to 4 inclusive, the clip means I4 may comprise two laterally spaced-apart side members or plates 35, 35, each provided with a footing flange 38, suitably mounted on or secured to the top of the ski I0, such as by screws 3'l-3'I. The footing flanges 36, 36 together comprise the base of the clip I4.

Side members 35, are preferably formed of resilient sheet metal and are shaped as shown in Fig. 2. Each of the side members 35 thus, preferably, has a top curved edge 3S which is provided with an integral resilient flange 39, turned laterally inward and downward, as best shown in Fig. 3. The lower edge 49 of each of flanges 39, 39 forms an anchorage abutment and is preferably curved along an arc of a circle about a center at 4I, as indicated in Fig. 2. The edges 40, 40 of resilient flanges 39, 39 are preferably spaced apart a distance somewhat less than the diameter of member 25 just above shoulder collar 21, so as frictionally to grip therebetween the iltting 2li secured upon pole I5. As a result, when the tip 26 is placed between downwardly sloping ilanges 39, 39 of clip I4 and the pole I5 then forced downwardly, those flanges will be resiliently spread apart to permit passage therebetween of the abutment collar 21 until the flange edges 4G, 40 can snap toward each other above shoulders 28, 28. Thus, the pole I5 will be securely anchored to the clip I4, while the latter permits pivotal movement of the pole longitudinally of the ski It with the shoulders 28, 28

-, sliding beneath the curved edges 4I), 4G. Opposing side pressure of the spring flanges 39, 3S on opposite sides of the pole keep it from falling forward or backward if released by the hand of the skier.

Clip I, in the embodiment shown n Figs. l to 4 inclusive, also includes bucket member 4I having a cupped bottom with an upwardly sloping front wall 42, a backwardly-sloping back panel 43 and opposed spaced-apart side panels 44, 44, with the latter preferably fastened or spot welded to base flanges or side plates 35, 35. At the top, back panel i3 may be merged with a supplemental strengthening and securing means, such as curved anchoring flange 45 which is secured in any desired manner to the opposed side plates 35, 35 such as by spot welding. There is provided in cupped bottom 42, at the bottom of the sloping back panel 43, suitable tip-receiving socket means, which may be in the form of a hole 4S of a diameter smaller than the external diameter of the main body of attachment member 25 above some point 4I on its tapered tip 25. It will thus readily be seen that the hole i6 is adapted to receive a portion of tip 26 While limiting downward movement of the pole I5, with the resulting socket mounting permitting pivotal action of the pole. The back panel i3 may, as explained more fully hereinafter, serve as a stop means for limiting backward swing of the pole I5, as well as a tip guide in mounting the pole equipped with attachment 24 upon a ski equipped with clip I4.

Operation of the present invention will be understood from the following. As shown in Fig. l, the engagement or clip means i4 preferably is mounted on ski i0 an appreciable distance forward of the boot platform I3, between that platform and the ski tip II, 'andV preferably about twelve inches (12") aheadof the toe of a skiers boot; so as to permit effective ski control by the pole with the latter in any of its anchored, readily accessible and adjustable, upright positions forward of or in its rearmost position, indicated in full lines in Fig. 1. As a result, when the pole I5 is in a position to the rear of a line normal to the longitudinal axis of the ski atthe clip, it provides a pull member for the skier which enables him to steady his balance when encountering uneven terrain in skiing, minimizing the tendency fora tyro to rcklage excessively (the tendency for a beginner to lean backward to a degree of overbalancing). This structure develops tri'.-y

angles of forces' fromtheclips'. I4lup the'pol'es I5. andskiers arms to hisbody, down hisibody and:

legs to boot platform I3; and forward along the skis It back to-clips- I4, whichv give effective longitudinal support to the skier.

The downwardly-curved longitudinally-extending abutment flange edges-4|J, 4|), laid out on the arcs of circles generatedl about a center 4I at the hole or socket, 46, permit pivoting of the pole i5 longitudinally of the ski from therearmost position shown in full lines at Xin Fig. 1, forward through an arc of swing comprising angles (a) and to the foremost anchored position indicated in dot-dash lines atY, with those positions making acute angles (a) 'and' to al verticla line Z through the clip I4. This permitted pole longitudinal swing avoids any interference with a skiers natural tendency and need to crouch forward during downhill runs, the poles being automatically adjustable from one to another of the plurality of upright positions thereof to accommodate the skiers almost constantly changing degree of crouoh attendant upon altering conditions of terrain, speed, etc., while naturally tending to load the front end of the skis as the skier unconsciously supports part of the weight of his leaning body by the poles onA the skis forward of their attachment to his boots. This front loading desirably increases maneuverability and control of the skis.

Beyond the extreme forward anchored position at Y, further forward pivoting of the pole i5 will disengage its shoulders 28, 28 from beneath the front ends of abutment flanges 40, 40 to free the pole from theclip I4. Thus, if the skier is catapulted forward by encountering an obstruction, the poles will be freed from the skis to be carried with him, so that any tendency of injury due to attachment of the poles to the skis will be absent.

The embodiment of the present invention" shown in Figs. l to 4 inclusive, is of particular advantage in that theeanchorage mounting of the poles to the skis is a simple matter requiring no` skill and no inconvenient stooping. The skier, when he desires to anchor the poles to the skis, merely stabs the point of each into thc open top of its anchoring clip I4. The pole tip 26 will be guided by downwardly and inwardly sloping flanges 3Q, 39 to the space intervening their shoulders or abutment edges 4|), 4|] to strike against the downwardly and' forwardly sloping back panel #i3 or its upwardly sloping lip or front wall 5.2 forward of the hole 46, so as to be guided into the latter as the tapered bottom side of collar f l spreads those spring flanges 39, 39 apart until their abutment edges can snap toward each other above the shoulders 28, 28, pivotally to anchor each of the poles securely to its ski.

The clips i4 substantially prevent any lateral pivoting of each of the poles IE relative to the ski to which it is anchored so that the pole may be employed to edge the ski by lateral pressure on the pole handle for helpful ski control in making turns and also in climbing. This prevention of lateral swing of the poles relative to the skis is also very useful in increasing a skiers power of recovery from any tendency to fall sideways. As he overbalances to one side he naturally tends to lift his foot and the ski attached thereto on the far side and levers inward on the top of the pole engaging that ski, thus pushing down on that ski being lifted. Similar conditionsof levern ing and downward push. are: set.; up ,byrthef over.-

balancingfskier.4 relative tov theA inside ski and its: As a result-` lateral triangles off has been found to be a highly important-feature of* the present invention.

It will thus be seenthat longitudinal swing with;v

avoidance of lateral swing` of the poles is veryj important and that tying of poles toiskis provides support for a skier in every direction. This greatly reduces the strain on the ankles and" legs; Further, provision for automatic freeing ofthepoles from the skis is a helpful feature of embodiments of the present invention in@ order to, avoid danger of injury when a skier is catapulted forward in a spill. However, insofar as the latter feature is concerned, such danger is minimized if the pole is permittedffreely to collapse-down uponI the ski tip. There is a further reason for providing for ready separation of the poles from the skis by means of the anchoragesI of the-present invention since a skier might well desire at times to employ vthe skis and the ski poles inthe now conventional manner.

In the embodiment shown in Figs. 5 andV 8inclusive, clip means II4 is shown in the form of a U-shaped base member |35 ha-Vinga transversely-extending portion 4l, preferablyv shaped to conform to the top surface of the ski 'and `fastened to the latter by means of screws 31, 31'. Upwardly-extending lside arms |35, |35 of the U-shaped base member |36 pivotally carry therebetween anchorage means to which the ski pole is to .be snap fastened. For this purpose the point 2| of the ski ypole I5 may be provided vwith a downwardly tapered collar I2'| having a squared top surface to provide on opposite sides anchoring shoulders |28, |26. The clip abutment means 1s provided by a box-shaped IframeA 48 having side arms t3, 49 respectively pivotally mounted` at 5|); to the arms |35, |35 of base member |36. The box member 48 includes a cone-shaped or cupped bottom 5I extending transversely between the two side portions @9, 45 and at its lowest point the tip-receiving socket is formed, preferably by means of a hole |46, to receive the tip 22 of pole point 2|, while uma-ing the extent to which the. tip will pass through that hole. The. upper side of the box member 48 is provided by itwo inwardlyturned `and downwardly-sloping resilient flanges |39, |39 having their inner bottom edges |40, |40 serving as abutment shoulders beneath which collar `2 is to be-received'by snap actionprovide,d by Iforming the box member 48 of resilient sheet material, such as springl steel.

Stop means are provided in the embodiments shown in Figs. 5 to 8 inclusive, .by transverse bars 52, 52 mounted between lside arms |35, |35, and suitably secured thereto. Each of the stopbars 52 preferably is provided centrally thereof with a laterally-projecting abutment element, 53. to serve as engagement means lfor the cloned 'bottoml 5| vof the box. member 48, t0 limit the longitudinal pivoting. action thereof. Such limiting of forward swing of the clip means ||4 by that stop'means on the front side of base member |36 is best indicated by the dot-dash position |48, shown in. Fig; 5, to which it is swung by pole I5 as the latter is swung forward to position Y at the front limit of the arc of its anchored swing. The similar stop bar 52 provided with` abutment element 53 locatedon the rear side of: base member |236 Y 7V dictates the rearmost position of box member 48 as the pole I is swung backward to position X.

As shown in Fig. 7, the inwardly and downwardly turned edges |40, |40 of the resilient fianges |30, |39 are so shaped as to provide a slot 54 therebetween having 4a wide mouth at at least the front side of the clip. Medially of that slot 54, in its most restricted portion, there are preferably formed small notches at 55, 55 to dictate the normal, securely anchored position of the pole point 2 It will thus be seen that in the embodiment shown in Figs. 5 to 8 inclusive, a ski pole I5 equipped -with the tapered coll-ar |21 may be readily mounted to the clip ||4 by stabbing the pole point 2| between the in-turned downwardlysloping flanges |39, |39, .which guide the tip 22 toward the slot 55 between their edges |40, |40. Those flanges will be spread apart by the tapered collar |21, to permit the latter to be snapped to beneath the flange edges |40, |40, with the tip 22 finding the hole |135 in the coned bottom 5| of the box member 48. The shank 23 of point 2| either will find its central position in notches 55, 55, or may be caused to be moved thereto by manipulation of the pole backward or forward, as may be necessary, with the box member 48 suitably jammed against one of its stops 53, 53.

In `use of :the embodiment shown in Figs. 5 to 8 inclusive, the action is similar to that described :above in connection with the form disclosed in Figs. 1 to 4 inclusive, and any tendency for the skier to =be catapulted from his skis will cause the pole |5 to be pivoted forward to the position Y where forward stop 53 limits further pivoting action of box member 48. Further forward turning pressure on the pole by the skier as he is thrown forward will force the pole |5 out of notches 55, 55 further along the slot 54 to emerge from the clip through the -wide front mouth of the slot, thereby freeing collar |21 from .beneath the abutment edges |40, |40. It may be desired to limit backward swing of the ski poles in clip devices of the type shown in Figs. 5 to 8 inclusive, without attendant disengagement of the poles so as to check excessive rcklage. For this purpose, there may be provided a limiting means, such as that proposed in Fig. 9, which may comprise a crossbar 55 suitably secured, such as by welding, to the abutment flanges |39, |39 to bridge across :the rear mouth of slot 54 therebetween, and there may be provided in such crossbar a notch 51 to receive shank 23 of point 2| as it is forced from opposed notches 55, 55. Also, it will be understood that stop bar structure, such as 56, may be located closely adjacent to, or immediately behind notches 55, 55, so that the point shank 23 may be prevented from moving to the rear thereof.

Advantages of the present invention may be attained by clip embodiments in which no particular provision is made for longitudinal swinglimiting stops. As is shown in Figs. to 13 inclusive, the clip means may be in the form of attachment 2|4, wherein side plates 235, 235 are shown provided with base flanges 236, 235, suitably anchored to the top of a ski, forward of a boot platform. There is mounted between side plates 235, 235 a relatively shallow bucket member 24| having opposed side Walls 244 and 244 suitably secured to those side plates and sloping front and back walls '242 and 243. The top edges of side walls 244, 244 are provided with inwardly and downwardly sloping panels 239,

.239 to guide a pole point to the slot between 8 those sidewalls when stabbed into the clip, and the tip recess is provided by a hole 246 in the bottom of the bucket where the sloping front and back walls 242 and 243 merge. Separate spring clips 58, 58 are provided to form the anchorage abutments, each located in a slot 59 in one of the side walls 244 with its bottom portion anchored to the latter, as shown. Each spring clip has its top free edge turned inwardly and downwardly i to provide sloped ange 339 with the curved bottom edge 340 thereof serving as one of the pair of abutment shoulders to engage pole attachment 224. It will be noted that the abutment edges 340, 34!) of clips 58, 58 preferably extend "generally along arcs of circles circumscribed about hole 246 through much smaller angles than the relatively large angle defined between front and back sloping walls 242 and 243. As a result swing of the pole between the latter will permit f freeing of the pole both forward of and to the rear of spring clips 58, 58', anchorage of the pole by the latter being assured only in the plurality of upright positions normally satisfying the changing Crouch of the skier in normal operation. All advantageous features of the embodiment shown in Figs. 1 to 4 inclusive, are attained by this modification except stop means to limit backward swing at an acute angle with a vertical line through the clip means of the order of that first embodiment. Further, this last embodiment provides greater strength in the side structures which resist lateral swing of the pole relative to the ski which may be desired for the edging control of the latter and recovery action in excessive sideways overbalancing. It is contemplated that advantages of the present invention may be attained with an engagement structure similar to that shown at 2|4 with the omission of the spring clips 58, 50, such structure providing for quick and simple stabbing engagement by a pole while, after such engagement, allowing the desired longitudinal swing and lateral ski edging and pole leverage, in addition to the steadying and iront loading actions, remarked above.

It will thus be noted that the embodiments shown in the drawings are featured by a pole engaging means which is cupped to provide a flared pocket into which a pole point can easily be stabbed and which limits downward movement of the pole point thereinto to permit the desired front loading of a ski with edging control thereof.

It has been found that embodiments of the present invention permit simplification of the bindings which normally are required to give complicated anchorage of boots to skis when relied on solely for the means to provide for the control and maneuvering thereof. Since a large part of such functions are transferred to the engaged poles in accordance with the present invention it is found that the bindings may be some simple means to hold the boot toe to the ski while permitting freeing by motion of the boot to the rear of the platform. Such means may take the form of a looped strap into which the boot toe may be kicked, and with which side plates may be used to permit some minor supplemental edging action. With such toe loop it may be desired to use an angle bracket at the heel to limit rearward boot movement until the heel is lifted above the bracket. Such a binding is illustrated in Fig. 1.

It has been found in practice that embodiments of the present invention described and claimed herein are of unusual aid, not only to tyros but also to expertswho find equipment of the present invention greatly relieves the strain of controlvling bala-nce and skis with legs only and particu- .above and those indicated in the above description, among others made apparent from the present disclosure, are eiciently attained, and, since certain changes may be made in the above construction and .different embodiments of the invention could be made without departing from the scope thereof, it is intended that all matter vcontained in the above vdescription or shown in the accompanying 'drawings shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

It vis .also tobe understood that the following claims are .intended to cover all of the generic and specic features of the invention herein described, and lall statements of the scope of the invention which, as a matter of language, might be said to fall therebetween.

Having described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

l. Ski pole engaging means for a ski comprising means to be secured on the top side of a ski appreciably forward of its boot platform, said means being cupped to provide a flared pocket readily receivable of a pole point stabbed into it and having point-engaging means to limit downward point movement while permitting free pole swing longitudinally of the ski between a plurality of upright positions, said pole engaging means having side abutment means to limit lateral pole swing to either side.

2. Ski pole engaging means as dened in claim 1 characterized by clip means to engage and anchor thereto a pole point when stabbed thereinto while permitting the free longitudinal pole swing.

3. Ski pole engaging means as defined in claim 2 characterized by said clip means being automatically releasable of said pole point when the pole is swung forward beyond a critical upwardly-extending position.

4. Guidable ski construction comprising a ski substantially of conventional form having a boot platform, a ski pole substantially of conventional form having an anchoring attachment on its point, and an anchoring clip on said ski in front of said platform detachably to engage said attachment when the point is stabbed into said clip, said clip permitting longitudinal swinging motion of said pole through a longitudinal arc between backward and forward upright positions while substantially preventing lateral swing of said pole relative to said ski.

5. The guidable ski construction as defined in claim 4 characterized by said pole attachment being automatically releasable by said clip when said pole is swung forward beyond a critical upright position.

6. Ski pole anchorage means for a ski comprising clip means to be secured on the top side of a ski forward of its boot platform and having means detachably to engage the point of a ski pole pivotally to anchor the latter against longitudinal pull thereon when its shaft projects upward within a longitudinally-extending swing arc. the forward limit of which forms an acute angle with a Vertical line through said clip means, said engagement means while permitting free longitudinal swinging of the ski pole through the swing arc preventing any substantial amount of lateral swinging of the pole relative to the ski .10 within that arc so that the -ski may be edged by lateral pressure on the pole handle, :said engagement means being .readily disengageable `from the pole when the latterv vis swung forward beyond the limit of the swing arc.

7. The ski pole anchorage means defined -in claim 6 characterized by provision of said engagement means as comprising a pair of opposed, laterally-spaced abutments on said -cl-ip means to receive therebetween the pole point with shoulders on the latter engaged below said abutments within the swing arc, l'said abutments permitting freeing of the pole when the latter is swung forward beyond the swing varc to carry the pole shoulders from beneath -said abutments.

8. The ski pole anchorage means dened in claim '7 adapted for disengageable attachment Vof a ski pole having a point terminating in a tip, characterized by provision of a socket below sal-d abutments to .receive the tip of the point when the shoulders on the point are placed below said abutments.

9. The ski pole anchorage means dened `in claim 8 adapted Vfor disengage'able attachment 'of a ski pole having a point comprising a shank structure terminating in a tapered portion constituting the tip, characterized by the provision of said socket as a hole inthe clip structure below said abutments with the hole diameter lbeing substantially less than the diameter of the point shank to provide stop means limiting downward movement of the pole in said clip means.

10. The ski pole anchorage means defined in claim 9 characterized by the provision of said abutments in the form of resilient flanges turned laterally in toward each other with their inner opposed edges directed downwardly readily to receive the pole point therebetween and to be sprung apart by downward pole movement until they are permitted to snap toward each other above said anchoring shoulders.

11. A guidable ski comprising, in combination, a ski substantially of conventional form having the usual boot platform, anchorage means mounted on the top of said ski ahead of said platform, a pole pivotally mounted at its lower end on said anchorage means for swinging movement longitudinally of said ski with said pole being of a length about suicient to reach to the vicinity of the waist of a skier using said equipment when the pole is in an upright position for convenient gripping of the pole handle, said anchorage means substantially preventing any substantial amount of lateral swinging of said pole when in an upright position relative to said ski so that the latter may be edged by lateral pressure on the pole handle while permitting collapse of said pole down upon said ski toward the tip thereof when swung longitudinally forward, and stop means on said anchorage means to limit backward longitudinal swinging of said pole from an upright position toward the ski tail.

12. The guidable ski construction defined in claim 11 characterized by the provision of said anchorage means with friction means to resist forward swinging of said pole from an upright position.

13. A guidable ski comprising, in combination, a ski substantially of conventional form having the usual boot platform, a clip base fastened to said ski ahead of said platform and having latorally-spaced arms projecting upwardly from the top side of said ski, a pair of laterally-spaced abutments on said arms extending laterally inward toward each other. a ski pole substantially of conventional form with a. shaft of normal length having a point comprising a shank terminating in a tip, shoulder meansV on opposite sides of the shank of said point slidably to be engaged below said pair of abutments with said shank received between the latter in an upright position, and point-receiving means below said abutments disengageably to receive said tip and prevent motion thereof longitudinally of said ski when said shoulder means are slidably located below said abutments while permitting swinging motion of said pole longitudinally of said ski.

14. The guidable ski con-struction as dened in claim 13 characterized by the provision of said pair of abutments in the form of resilient longitudinally-extending flanges turned laterally in toward each other with their inner opposed edges directed downwardly readily to receive the point shank therebetween.

15. The guidable ski construction defined in claim 14 characterized by the provision of said abutment flanges in arcuate form with their opposed edges lying substantially along arcs of circles circumscribed about said point-receiving means as a center and of such length as to permit anchored swinging of said -pole longitudinally of said ski through a swing arc the limits of which form acute angles with a. vertical line through said point-receiving means, said shoulders being freable from behind said abutment flanges when said pole is swung forward toward the ski tip beyond the swing arc with disengagement of said point permitted by longitudinal motion of said shaft.

16. The guidable ski construction dened in claim 15 characterized by the provision of said point-receiving means in the form of a socket in said clip base with said arcuate abutment iianges thereabove sloped inwardly toward the socket to permit ready anchoring engagement of said pole with said clip when ysaid point is stabbed into the latter.

17. The guidable ski construction dened in claim 16 characterized by the provision in said clip means of a pair of point-guiding surfaces extending longitudinally of the ski with one sloping downward and forward and the other sloping downward and backward toward the socket to serve a-s guides for said point when stabbed into said clip.

18. The guidable ski construction defined in claim 17 characterized by the provision of supplemental sloping guide means on both sides of the socket between said front and back sloping surfaces.

WILLIAM H. WHEELER.

No references cited. 

